Joint-connection for metal frame-work



(No Model.) 2 Sheets$heet 1.

W. (J. WESTAWAY 8; L. W. BEARD. JOINT CONNECTION FOR METAL FRAME WORK.

No. 454,691. Patented June 23,1891.

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JOINT CONNECTION FOR METAL FRAME WORK No. 454,691. Patented June23,1891.

Illllllllll! UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER O. WESTAWVAY AND LEVIS W. BEARD, OF DEOORAH, IOVA.

JOINT-CONNECTION FOR METAL FRAME-WORK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 454,691, dated June 23,1891.

Application filed November 3, 1890. Serial No. 370,204. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, WALTER O. WnsTAWAY and LEWIS W. BEARD, citizens ofthe United States of America, residing at Decorah, in the county of\Vinneshiek and State of Iowa, have jointly invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Joint-Connections for Metal FrameWork, of whichthe following is a specification.

In the accompanying drawings,wl1erein like reference-letters indicatelike parts, Figure 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 2 a cross-section,

Fig. 3 a vertical section, and Fig. 4 a top plan, of the parts connectedtogether without the coupling-tube.

Our invention is adapted to metallic frame structures generally, but ismore particularly intended for windmill-towers, electric-light towers,and similar buildings composed of vertical pipes coupled together andconnected by transverse horizontal beams and diagonal bracebarsa form ofembodiment selected for illustration in the drawings, wherein- A Bindicate the vertical or slightly-inclined pipe-sections connectedtogether by couplingtnbes O. D shows one of the transverse beams, and EF represent two of the diagonal bracebars. It is already customary toconnect the members A B D and E F together by means of the coupling-tubeO, and in this respect we follow the ordinary usage.

Difficulty has, however, been experienced in adjusting and tightening upthe diagonal brace-bars, and heretofore no simple, cheap, convenient,and effective means has been available for this purpose.

It is the object of our invention to supply this want. To this end wecast the coupling 0 with a suitable chamber or space I at the middlebetween the points to which the pipe sections A B are capable ofscrewing, and make an opening 1' into one side of the chamber to admitan adjusting-block ,J, and also provide a hole 2" at the opposite side,through which extends a stem j, formed on or connected with the block.The outer end of the stem j is screw-threaded and provided with ascrew-nut k, by which the position of the block may be adjusted in thechamber. The

block is bored transversely, as shown at j, to accommodate the'bolt L,which passes horizontally through the coupling-tube and to the Vprojecting ends of which the brace-bars are attached. The bolt L fitsclosely the hole j in the block, so that any material movement of theblock will move the bolt; but the holes 0 in the checks of the coupling,through which said bolt extends, are sufficiently larger than the boltto permit the latter to be moved laterally. A difference ofthree-eighths of an inch in the respective diameters of the bolt and theholes 0 is ordinarily sufficient for the purpose. the opening 1' at theback end of the socket cl, in which the ends of the transverse beams Dare secured.

In practice the pipe-sections A B are coupled, the blocks J inserted andsecured by their nuts 70, the beams D stepped in their sockets d, thebolts L inserted transversely through the coupling and its contained adjustin gblock, and the diagonal bars E F connected to the ends of thebolts L and properly secured. Then by tightening up the adjusting-nuts7c the boltsL are drawn back, straining and tightening simultaneouslyall the diagonal brace-bars attached thereto.

The construction is simple, involving but slight changes in the form ofthe coupling, and proving very convenient and effective in practice.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

In combination with the diagonal bracebars and the coupling, the bolt L,working loosely in the walls of the coupling, the movable adjusting-block through which said bolt passes within the coupling, andmeans for forcing the block back and thereby putting the brace-barsunder strain, substantially as described.

\VALTER O. VESTAWVAY. LEWIS \V. BEARD.

Witnesses:

W. M. HILL, L. HILL.

Preferably We prefer to construct

